Function:
Myosin, the major contractile protein, converts chemical energy into mechanical force through hydrolysis of ATP. a-Myosin is almost exclusively expressed in cardiac tissue.
Antibodies Appear:
- Autoimmune Myocarditis [3]
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy [3]
- Myasthenia Gravis [5]
- Rheumatic Heart Disease [2]
Known Cross-Reactions:
Group A Streptococcus pyogens, [2]
Streptococcus mutans, [6]
streptococcal M protein, [7]
striated muscle, [5]
cytomegalovirus [8]
Clinical Significance:
As suggested in an experimental assay, [1] in which anti-myosin antibodies caused an increased calcium uptake and retention, leading to myocyte dysfunction and possibly cell death, anti-myosin antibodies may be detrimental to cardiac function. However, elevated antibodies to a-Myosin have been found in dilated cardiomyopathy pedigrees with both familial and non-familial disease, and thus do not support the concept of playing a primary pathogenic role. [4] These antibodies are more likely to be used as a marker for predisposition. [3] A high percentage of asymptomatic relatives of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy also have elevated antibodies to myosin-alpha [3] and should be monitored for early signs of autoimmune myocarditis. Due to cross reactivity, patients with Rheumatic Fever or Myasthenia Gravis should be assessed for autoimmune myocarditis.
References:
1. Bick, et al. Effects of IgM from rheumatic fever patients on intracellular calcium levels of neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. Life Sci, 2003; 73:2101-2111.
2. Fae, et al. Mimicry in recognition of cardiac myosin peptides by heart-intralesional T cell clones from rheumatic heart disease. J Immunol, 2006; 176:5662-5670.
3. Goldman, et al. Autoimmunity to a myosin in a subset of patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Br Heart J, 1995; 75:598-603.
4. Herskowitz, et al. Concepts of autoimmunity applied to dilated cardiomyopathy. J Am Coll Cardiol, 1993; 22:1385-1388.
5. Williams, et al. Serum antibodies and monoclonal antibodies secreted by thymic B-cell clones from patients with Myasthenia Gravis define striational antigens. Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1987; 505(1):168-179.
6. Ackermans, et al. Anti-IgG antibodies in rheumatic diseases cross-react with Streptococcus mutans SR antigen. Clin Exp Immunol, 1991; 85:265-269.
7. Quinn, et al. Immunological relationship between the class I epitope of streptococcal M protein and myosin. Infect Immun, 1998; 66(9):4418-4424.
8. Lawson, et al. Mouse cytomegalovirus infection induces antibodies which cross-react with virus and cardiac my
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As suggested in an experimental assay, [1] in which anti-myosin antibodies caused an increased calcium uptake and retention, leading to myocyte dysfunction and possibly cell death, anti-myosin antibodies may be detrimental to cardiac function. However, elevated antibodies to a-Myosin have been found in dilated cardiomyopathy pedigrees with both familial and non-familial disease, and thus do not support the concept of playing a primary pathogenic role. [4] These antibodies are more likely to be used as a marker for predisposition. [3] A high percentage of asymptomatic relatives of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy also have elevated antibodies to myosin-alpha [3] and should be monitored for early signs of autoimmune myocarditis. Due to cross reactivity, patients with Rheumatic Fever or Myasthenia Gravis should be assessed for autoimmune myocarditis.
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21-Hydroxylase (Adrenal Cortex), Alpha + Beta Tubulin IgG+IgA, Alpha + Beta Tubulin IgM, Alpha-Myosin, Arthritic Peptide, ASCA + ANCA, Asialoganglioside IgG+IgA, Asialoganglioside IgM, Cerebellar IgG+IgA, Cerebellar IgM, Collagen Complex, Cytochrome P450 (Hepatocyte), Fibulin, Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase 65 (GAD 65), Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Autoantibody, IA-2 Autoantibody, Insulin + Islet Cell Antigen, Intrinsic Factor, Myelin Basic Protein IgG + IgA, Myelin Basic Protein IgM, Myocardial Peptide, Osteocyte, Ovary/Testis, Parietal Cell + ATPase, Phospholipid, Platelet Glycoprotein, Synapsin IgG+IgA, Synapsin IgM, Thyroglobulin, Thyroglobulin IgG, Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO), Thyroid Peroxidase IgG, Tropomyosin